Spigot



the liquid contents of the cask or barrel from which is curved so that when introduced UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM H. MCKENNA, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SPIGOT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.' 537,545, dated April 16, 1895. Application filed July 26,1894. Serial No. 518,634. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. IVICKENNA, of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a'new and useful Improvement in Spigots, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the valve open; and Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2.

My invention has for its object to provide a spigot for casks and barrels, of improved con struction, and which has the advantages of being simple of construction, of holding back contact with the metal of which it is made, and of being capable of being opened or turned on only by a key of peculiar construction.

In the drawings, 2 represents the tube 01' barrel of the spigot, having a mouth or delivery opening 3, and an annular valve-seat 4 on which the valve 5 fits; This valve is fixed to a stem 6, which is set axially within the barrel of the spigot and moves lengthwise therein against the pressure of a coiled spring 7. This spring is contained within a cap 8, which is screwed to the inner end of the spigot barrel and which is provided with perforations for the passage of the liquid. A projection 9. at the inner end of the stem fits within the coil of the spring and is guided thereby and the spring normally holds the valve against its seat. The inner end of the valve stem fits within a tubular guide-hole at the outer end of the spigot and is guided thereby in its longitudinal motion. To move the valve-stem inwardly for the purpose of unseating the valve, I employ a key lever 10, the end of through a slot or hole at the forward portion of the spigot it may extend inwardly along the stem and may engage a shoulder 11 thereon.

The operation is as follows:-The parts of the spigot having been assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, it can be driven into the bung-hole of a barrel in the usual way. The coiled spring now holds the valve pressed against its seat. To unseat the valve, the lever-key is introduced through the slot until its end engages the shoulder 11, and then, by pressing with the thumb upon the outer end of the lever, it is tilted and presses in the valve-stem. unseating the valve and permitting theliquid to flow out through the spigot. If it is desired to keep the spigot open for a considerable time, the key is moved laterally until anotch 12 at the side thereof engages the under portion of the slot, and thus locks the lever-key in place and holds the valve open. To close the valve, the lever-key is moved sidewise in the opposite direction, thus releasing the notch and permitting the spring to seat the valve. The key may then be removed from the slot and the valve cannot be opened again until the key, or a key of similar construction be inserted. To extend the range of motion of the lever-key, its under surface at the curved portion is grooved or recessed as shown in Fig. 3, so that it may fit closely to'thestem.

It will be noticed that the valve is situated at the inner portion of the spigot-tube, and

thus holds back the liquid from contact with the interior of the barrel, which being of metal might contaminate the liquid to some extent. This is the preferable construction, but the broader claims of this specification are not limited thereto.

I claim as new 1. A spigot having a longitudinally mov-' able valve stem and valve, 2. projection or shoulder upon the stem, said spigot having a hole therein at one side of the shoulder or projection, and a curved key arranged to enter the hole and engage the shoulder; substantially as described.

- 2. A spigot having a longitudinally movable valve stem and valve, a projection or shoulder upon the stem, said spigot having a hole therein at one side of the shoulder or projection, and a curved key arranged to enter the hole and engage the shoulder, said key having on one'side a notch arranged to engage the side of the hole; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WM. H. MOKENNA.

Witnesses:

W. B. GORWIN, H. M. CoRWIN. 

